I'm a 2021 coach and this Summer was the first time our season ended (luckily on a good note) when kids just wanted more. One more tournament or tried to get spot at lacrosse camp or "when's practice start back up."

Football will take all those players energy, but I think kids are mostly tired of rec soccer and cross country is just to stay in shape. I have been lobbied to beef up our Fall season so their kids have a sport they are excited about until wrestling/hockey/basketball season. (Almost every kid on my team plays 3 sports.)

Anyway, I think all the criticisms above are valid and I think the coach and/or program head really needs to work hard to give their team (and parents) a good family experience. A lot of that is being positive, trying to navigate playing time issues, keeping costs down, avoiding Friday afternoon traffic jams, etc. Watching kids from so many different schools become friends (and act like kids!) has clearly been the best part of the experience so far.